Nearby Attractions

Corcovado National Park

This Osa Peninsula park has the largest stronghold of Pacific Coast primary rainforest and the largest in size of Costa Rica’s 13 national parks with amazing wildlife. There are four legal ways to enter the park. The most popular way is to take a boat down the Rio Sierpe to Drake’s Bay. Osa Mountain Village Resort can help you with this. This is not a day trip and you should plan to stay at least one night to see all the park has to offer.

Tárraba-Sierpe National Wetlands

The Tárraba-Sierpe National Wetlands protects the extensive river mouth delta systems, estuaries and wetlands between the Grand Tárraba River and the Sierpe River on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, north of Drake Bay. The Diquis Valley is known for its archaeological relics, stone spheres from Pre-Columbian times. The town of Sierpe is 15 kilometers south of Palmar Norte passing through rice fields and banana and palm oil plantations. This is the passageway to the wilderness of the Osa Peninsula with boat tours to CaÃ±o Island, Corcovado National Park and Drake Bay. We recommend you take the mangrove tour. The boat ride gets you very close to the herons, scarlet macaws, crocodiles, iguanas, and howler, squirrel and white-faced monkeys!

Caño Island Biological Reserve

Ballena National Marine Park

There are four entrances to this park from beach access roads near Playa Uvita Sectors Colonia, Arco, Ballena and Piñela. Ballena means “whale” in Spanish and is the southernmost migration point for the 45-foot-long endangered humpback whale.Â The coast here is full of exotic birds and wildlife.Â Also nearby are Playa Hermosa, Playa Ventana and Playa Tortuga that do not require you to pay a park admission. The park is 30 minutes from Osa Mountain Village Resort.

Manuel Antonio National Park

This park is considered the crown jewel of Costa Rica’s national parks with its tree-covered shoreline, white-sand beaches, aqua blue water and a network of canopy-covered hiking trails teaming with sloths, monkeys, lizards and iguanas. The walking trail along the land bridge to Cathedral Point with its views of forested cliffs and the offshore islands, or “mogotes” is dreamlike. Yes, lots of tourists here, but a must see! There are many good restaurants in nearby Manuel Antonio and Quepos. This area is just over an hour north of Osa Mountain Village Resort. You can take hiking trails to see the jungle or just walk into the beach areas and relax. Entrance fees are about $10/pp so plan to make a day of it. There is no free parking at the park entrance. Private parking will be around $6 or you can take a taxi or the bus from your hotel.